Locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member

Abstract

A locating appliance provides expedite locating of non-metallic pipes. The locating appliance is employed with an existing tight seal plug inherent to a non-metallic pipe and includes a metal disk engaged with a self-taping screw. The locating appliance is installed by suitably screwing it into an end cap of the existing tight seal plug. Alternatively, a locating plug including a metal disk affixed with the end cap of the plug, is designed to be installed instead of the existing tight seal plug inherent to the non-metallic pipe. When a user has a need to access the pipe, such as for replacement purposes, to clear a sewer line, or the like, the user is able to quickly and accurately locate the locating appliance, or the locating plug using any suitable metal detector or device known in the art.

1 . A locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member comprising: 
 a plate member adapted for being engaged with an associated end fitting for a non-metallic piping member;    wherein the plate member is, at least partially, a metal plate member, and is further adapted for being located by a metal detector.    
   
   
       2 . A locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member of  claim 1  further comprising a screw member, wherein the plate member further comprises an opening adapted for receiving the screw member.  
   
   
       3 . A locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member of  claim 2  wherein the screw member is of a self-tapping type, and wherein the screw member is adapted for engaging the plate member with an associated end fitting for a non-metallic piping member.  
   
   
       4 . A locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member of  claim 2  further comprising a gasket member, wherein the gasket member comprises an opening adapted for receiving the screw member, and wherein the gasket member is placed between the plate member and an end fitting for a non-metallic piping member such that the opening in the gasket member is coaxial with the opening in the plate member.  
   
   
       5 . A locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member of  claim 4  wherein the gasket member is of resilient material.  
   
   
       6 . A locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member of  claim 1  wherein the plate member is of a disk shape.  
   
   
       7 . A locating appliance for a non-metallic piping member of  claim 1  wherein the plate member further includes a protective coating.  
   
   
       8 . A locating plug for a non-metallic piping member comprising: 
 a cylinder part adapted for being received by an associated respective piping member; and    an end cap part fixedly attached to the cylinder part, the end cap part at least partially overlapping the cylinder part;    wherein the cylinder part is further adapted for being engaged by an interior of an associated respective piping member; and    wherein the end cap part includes at least one metal portion adapted for being located by a metal detector.    
   
   
       9 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 8  wherein the end cap part further comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface of the end cap part is fixedly attached to the cylinder part.  
   
   
       10 . A locating plug for a pipe member of  claim 9  wherein the at least one metal portion is a metal disk.  
   
   
       11 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 10  wherein the metal disk is fixedly attached to the top surface of the end cap part.  
   
   
       12 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 10  wherein the metal disk is embedded into the top surface of the end cap part.  
   
   
       13 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 8  further comprising at least one gasket, wherein the gasket envelopes the cylinder part.  
   
   
       14 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 13  wherein the cylinder part further comprises at least one annular groove, and wherein the at least one gasket is placed in the at least one annular groove.  
   
   
       15 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 13  wherein the cross section of the at least one gasket is one of an O-shape, and V-shape.  
   
   
       16 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 8  wherein the diameter of the cylinder part is adapted to standard pipe member sizes.  
   
   
       17 . A locating plug for a piping member of  claim 13  wherein the at least one gasket is made of a resilient material.